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1 in 4 Students Using Mac: Report

by Brandon Dimmel on August, 17 2010 at 08:08AM EDT

According to a recent study by higher-education research company Student Monitor, more and more university and college students are buying up Apple laptops. Apple's growth in this lucrative market has led one analyst to question whether or not Microsoft is staying in touch with younger tech users.

Student Monitor says about one in four laptops found on U.S. college campuses are Apple products -- a startling statistic, given that another tech research firm, Net Applications, not long ago estimated that Macbooks represent only about 5 per cent of computers used worldwide.

Microsoft Unable to Connect with Younger Generation

This is not the first indication that university students may be moving away from Microsoft products. Recently, the Redmond-based firm's stock dropped slightly after a Wall Street analyst noted the increased use of Apple Macbooks on U.S. campuses.

Trip Chowdhry, an analyst with Global Equities Research, believes Apple's success could indicate Microsoft is having trouble connecting with younger computer users. "Our research is indicating that Microsoft is unable to connect with the new generation of users," Chowdhry said in an interview with the Associated Press. (Source: seattlepi.com)

Times Tough for Dell

Student Monitor's findings back up Chowdhry's position. In 2005, they found that 47 per cent of students preferred Dell computers -- which run Microsoft Windows -- and just 14 per cent, less than one in five, wanted a MacBook. Fast-forward five years and the companies have switched positions: in 2010, just 12 per cent of students say they'd like a Dell, while 47 per cent prefer the idea of owning a Mac.

Student Monitor says that right now about 27 per cent of college students are using notebooks built by Apple, followed by Dell at 24 per cent. Honorable mentions go to HP and Toshiba, at 15 and 10 per cent, respectively. (Source: zdnet.com)

Putting the numbers together, Windows is still the the choice of 3 in every 4 students -- but by no means does that number appear to be growing.